Government investment in ITM’s clean hydrogen project in Sheffield is to be welcomed
The investment into a major clean hydrogen project in Sheffield is important on a number of levels. Firstly, the £86.5m investment from Great British Energy and the Government sends a clear message that Britain is ready to stand at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.
While there is still a sizable number of detractors when it comes to the net zero transition, it is hard to ignore the opportunities that are being presented by the drive towards clean energy.
One of the big dangers of the transition is that communities across places like South Yorkshire will be left behind. That is why this investment, establishing South Yorkshire as the home of Europe’s largest electrolyser factories, is to be welcomed.
The investment into ITM Power’s ‘Chronos’ green hydrogen electrolyser will deliver 400 jobs. These are much needed skilled jobs in the region. Jobs that would otherwise have gone elsewhere if Britain was to turn its back on net zero.
Electrolysers are a vital technology required to generate green hydrogen, by using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The current conflict in the Middle East is a reminder of the pressing need to move away from fossil fuels or at the very least become less dependent on them.
The transition can’t just happen through Government expenditure. The sheer weight of the money required would see the public purse buckle. The Government must work with private investors to ensure that Britain is in a position to capitalise on the economic opportunities that come from developing green technology while simultaneously tackling climate change. The skills and expertise exist, they just need to be leveraged through the right support. This investment sends the right message but with such a long road ahead to net zero, there is still much work to do.